Court rules eviction of residents 'unconstitutional'

Justice Surajudeen Onigbanjo of Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, has ruled in favour of the residents of Otodo-Gbame who have been forcefully evicted from their waterfront settlements by the state government.

The judge issued his verdict on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, ruling the evictions as unconstitutional, saying it violates the rights of the residents, especially as it happened without consultation or a resettlement plan in place.

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He also ordered the state government to start consultations with the evicted residents and devise a resettlement plan.

The court case against Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and other Lagos officials was filed by Justice and Empowerment Initiatives (JEI), a Lagos-based human rights organization, and dozens of waterfront communities in the state.

The Otodo Gbame community is a slum of shanties occupied by peasants, mat-weaving fishermen and divers.

Thousands of residents were rendered homeless when the poor fishing community was set on fire then bulldozed on March 17, 2017, with many of them getting chased into the lagoon on boats.

At least three people died during the forceful eviction process enforced by armed police that came in helicopters, gunboats and police trucks.

Lagos authorities denied the accusations, saying a fight between different groups in the community caused the fire.

Ambode has been accused of waging a war against the poor with his dreams of rapid urbanisation badly affecting low income residents of the state more.

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A day before the March evictions, a High Court had barred the state government from bringing down all illegal waterfront communities like the Governor had threatened to do.